Common Name: ZINC OXIDE CAS Number: 1314-13-2 DOT Number: UN 3077 DOT Hazard Class: 9 (Miscellaneous Hazardous Material) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Zinc Oxide can affect you when breathed in. * Exposure to Zinc Oxide can cause “metal fume fever.” This is a flu-like illness with symptoms of metallic taste in the mouth, headache, fever and chills, aches, chest tightness and cough. The symptoms may be delayed for several hours after exposure and usually last for a day or two. * Zinc Oxide may be released when welding galvanized metal. RTK Substance number: 2037 Date: February 2000 Revision: January 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 5 mg/m3 (for Zinc Oxide fume), 15 mg/m3 (for total dust), and 5 mg/m3 (for respirable dust) averaged over an 8-hour workshift. Zinc Oxide is a white or yellowish-white, odorless powder which is used in pigments, rubber, paints, ceramics, plastics, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Zinc Oxide fumes are fine, white, odorless particles which are formed when Zinc or Zinc alloys are heated to high temperatures (such as in welding, galvanizing and smelting). NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 5 mg/m3 (for Zinc Oxide fume and dust) averaged over a 10-hour workshift, 10 mg/m3 as a short-term exposure limit (for Zinc Oxide fume), and 15 mg/m3 (for Zinc Oxide dust), not to be exceeded at any time. REASON FOR CITATION ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 2 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 10 mg/m3 as a STEL (short-term exposure limit) for the respirable fraction. IDENTIFICATION * Zinc Oxide is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, DEP and EPA. * Definitions are provided on page 5. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their employees with information and training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires private employers to provide similar training and information to their employees. * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results from your employer. You have a legal right to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn. * Wear protective work clothing. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Zinc Oxide and at the end of the workshift. * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In addition, as part of an ongoing education and training effort, communicate all information on the health and safety hazards of Zinc Oxide to potentially exposed workers. ZINC OXIDE This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all potential and most severe health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below. Metal, metal compounds and alloys are often used in “hot” operations in the workplace. These may include, but are not limited to, welding, brazing, soldering, plating, cutting, and metallizing. At the high temperatures reached in these operations, metals often form metal fumes which have different health effects and exposure standards than the original metal or metal compound and require specialized controls. Your workplace can be evaluated for the presence of particular fumes which may be generated. Consult the appropriate New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- page 2 of 6 Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling exposure. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is sometimes necessary. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Zinc Oxide: * Exposure to Zinc Oxide can cause “metal fume fever.” This is a flu-like illness with symptoms of metallic taste in the mouth, headache, fever and chills, aches, chest tightness and cough. The symptoms may be delayed for several hours after exposure and usually last for a day or two. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Zinc Oxide and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Zinc Oxide has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. Reproductive Hazard * Zinc Oxide may damage the developing fetus. Other Long-Term Effects * Zinc Oxide has not been tested for other chronic (longterm) health effects. MEDICAL Medical Testing There is no special test for this chemical. However, if illness occurs or overexposure is suspected, medical attention is recommended. In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. In addition, the following control is recommended: * Where possible, automatically transfer Zinc Oxide from drums or other storage containers to process containers. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Zinc Oxide should change into clean clothing promptly. * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family members could be exposed. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals who have been informed of the hazards of exposure to Zinc Oxide. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use. * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency shower facilities should be provided. * On skin contact with Zinc Oxide, immediately wash or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have contacted Zinc Oxide, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Zinc Oxide is handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, applying cosmetics, smoking, or using the toilet. * Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during cleanup. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. page 3 of 6 ZINC OXIDE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace controls are being installed), personal protective equipment may be appropriate. The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR 1910.132) requires employers to determine the appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train employees on how and when to use protective equipment. The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not apply to every situation. Clothing * Avoid skin contact with Zinc Oxide. Wear protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most protective glove/clothing material for your operation. * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) should be clean, available each day, and put on before work. Eye Protection * Wear eye protection with side shields or goggles. * Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your workplace. You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. * Where the potential exists for exposure over 20 mg/m3, use a NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positivepressure mode. For increased protection use in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positivepressure mode. * Exposure to 500 mg/m3 is immediately dangerous to life and health. If the possibility of exposure above 500 mg/m3 exists, use a NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in a pressuredemand or other positive-pressure mode equipped with an emergency escape air cylinder. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: A: Q: A: Respiratory Protection IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a written program that takes into account workplace conditions, requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). * NIOSH has established new testing and certification requirements for negative pressure, air purifying, particulate filter and filtering facepiece respirators. The filter classifications of dust/mist/fume, paint spray or pesticide prefilters, and filters for radon daughters, have been replaced with the N, R, and P series. Each series has three levels of filtering efficiency: 95%, 99%, and 99.9%. Check with your safety equipment supplier or your respirator manufacturer to determine which respirator is appropriate for your facility. * If while wearing a filter or cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect Zinc Oxide, or if while wearing particulate filters abnormal resistance to breathing is experienced, or eye irritation occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator, leave the area immediately. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good, you may need a new respirator. Q: A: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic health effects? Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from repeated exposures to a chemical. Can I get long-term effects without ever having shortterm effects? Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to make you immediately sick. What are my chances of getting sick when I have been exposed to chemicals? The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is determined by the length of time and the amount of material to which someone is exposed. Q: A: When are higher exposures more likely? Conditions which increase risk of exposure include dust releasing operations (grinding, mixing, blasting, dumping, etc.), other physical and mechanical processes (heating, pouring, spraying, spills and evaporation from large surface areas such as open containers), and "confined space" exposures (working inside vats, reactors, boilers, small rooms, etc.). Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for community residents? Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in cases of fires or spills, are usually much lower than those found in the workplace. However, people in the community may be exposed to contaminated water as well as to chemicals in the air over long periods. This may be a problem for children or people who are already ill. A: page 4 of 6 ZINC OXIDE Q: A: Q: A: Who is at the greatest risk from reproductive hazards? Pregnant women are at greatest risk from chemicals that harm the developing fetus. However, chemicals may affect the ability to have children, so both men and women of childbearing age are at high risk. Can men as well as women be affected by chemicals that cause reproductive system damage? Yes. Some chemicals reduce potency or fertility in both men and women. Some damage sperm and eggs, possibly leading to birth defects. -----------------------------------------------------------------------The following information is available from: New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Occupational Health Service PO Box 360 Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 (609) 984-1863 (609) 984-7407 (fax) Web address: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/odisweb/ Industrial Hygiene Information Industrial hygienists are available to answer your questions regarding the control of chemical exposures using exhaust ventilation, special work practices, good housekeeping, good hygiene practices, and personal protective equipment including respirators. In addition, they can help to interpret the results of industrial hygiene survey data. Medical Evaluation If you think you are becoming sick because of exposure to chemicals at your workplace, you may call personnel at the Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational Health Service, who can help you find the information you need. Public Presentations Presentations and educational programs on occupational health or the Right to Know Act can be organized for labor unions, trade associations and other groups. Right to Know Information Resources The Right to Know Infoline (609) 984-2202 can answer questions about the identity and potential health effects of chemicals, list of educational materials in occupational health, references used to prepare the Fact Sheets, preparation of the Right to Know Survey, education and training programs, labeling requirements, and general information regarding the Right to Know Act. Violations of the law should be reported to (609) 984-2202. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ZINC OXIDE page 5 of 6 DEFINITIONS The CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service to identify a specific chemical. NAERG is the North American Emergency Response Guidebook. It was jointly developed by Transport Canada, the United States Department of Transportation and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico. It is a guide for first responders to quickly identify the specific or generic hazards of material involved in a transportation incident, and to protect themselves and the general public during the initial response phase of the incident. CFR is the Code of Federal Regulations, which consists of the regulations of the United States government. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies substances according to their fire and explosion hazard. A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn. A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators, conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes standards to OSHA. DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer. DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency that regulates the transportation of chemicals. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which adopts and enforces health and safety standards. EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. PEL is the Permissible Exposure Limit which is enforceable by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A fetus is an unborn human or animal. PIH is a DOT designation for chemicals which are Poison Inhalation Hazards. ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. It recommends upper limits (called TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will ignite easily and burn rapidly. The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their cancer-causing potential. IRIS is the Integrated Risk Information System database of the federal EPA. A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly dissolve in another. mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer. ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a measure of concentration by volume in air. A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases energy under certain conditions. STEL is a Short Term Exposure Limit which is usually a 15minute exposure that should not be exceeded at any time during a work day. A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by damaging the fetus. TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure limit recommended by ACGIH. The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in. page 6 of 6 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> E M E R G E N C Y I N F O R M A T I O N <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Common Name: DOT Number: DOT Hazard Class: NAERG Code: CAS Number: HANDLING AND STORAGE ZINC OXIDE UN 3077 9 (Miscellaneous Hazardous Material) 171 1314-13-2 Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe * Prior to working with Zinc Oxide you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. * Mixtures of Zinc Oxide and CHLORINATED RUBBER may explode when heated above 419oF (215oC). * MAGNESIUM heated with Zinc Oxide may result in an explosion. * Zinc Oxide is not compatible with LINSEED OIL VARNISH; OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); and STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and HYDROFLUORIC). * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area. FIRE HAZARDS FIRST AID * Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for type of surrounding fire. Zinc Oxide itself does not burn. * POISONOUS FUMES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including Zinc Oxide fumes. * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in the OSHA Fire Brigades Standard (29 CFR 1910.156). For POISON INFORMATION call 1-800-222-1222 Hazard rating FLAMMABILITY REACTIVITY NJDHSS NFPA 0 - 0 - DOES NOT BURN POISONOUS FUMES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE Eye Contact * Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Skin Contact SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES * Remove contaminated clothing. Wash contaminated skin with soap and water. If Zinc Oxide is spilled, take the following steps: Breathing * Evacuate personnel and secure and control entrance to the area. * Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe manner and deposit in sealed containers. * Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete. * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Zinc Oxide as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. * If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be properly trained and equipped. The OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (29 CFR 1910.120) may apply. =========================================== FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire department. You can request emergency information from the following: CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300 NJDEP HOTLINE: 1-877-WARN-DEP =========================================== * Remove the person from exposure. * Transfer promptly to a medical facility. PHYSICAL DATA Vapor Pressure: 0 mm Hg at 68oF (20oC) Water Solubility: Insoluble OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES Chemical Name: Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Other Names: Zincite; Zinc White; Zinc Peroxide ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial purposes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES Right to Know Program PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 (609) 984-2202 -------------------------------------------------------------------------